MACKINAC CITY, MI- A Michigan food manufacturer is proving a small business from the Great Lakes State can grow to international operations.

Ferndale-based Garden Fresh Gourmet Inc., which started in 1997 with Jack and Annette Aronson making a five-gallon bucket of salsa, is on pace for $110 million in revenue this year, according to its Vice Chairman Dave Zilko.

“Jack is the most brilliant food guy I’ve ever seen, but he’s more than a food guy,” Zilko, who joined the company in 2003, told MLive.com following a panel Tuesday at the Mackinac Policy Conference. “He’s really, really good at getting product out-the-door.”

Zilko, who grew up in Warren and now lives in Rochester Hills, said the company ships about 1.1 million units a week.

“Our success rate is virtually 100 percent,” he said, adding Garden Fresh now employs about 425 people at its five Michigan locations in Metro Detroit and Grand Rapids.

Zilko was on a panel about entrepreneurs being a catalyst for economic recovery in Michigan with Rick DeVos, Start Garden CEO; Angel Gambino, senior vice president and digital innovations for Westfield Shoppingtowns, and co-founder of Detroit developer Nonopoly; and Chris Rizik, CEO and fund manager of Renaissance Venture Capital Inc.

The 2012 Mackinac Policy Conference started today and continues through Thursday at the Grand Hotel. The annual three-day conference brings together public officials and business leaders to discuss economic development in the state. About 1,500 people are expected to attend this year’s conference.